Not Quite Thoroughly Modern Bathsheva

Far from the Madding Crowd (1967) - Schlesinger









In anticipation of Thomas Vinterberg's remake, starring Carey Mulligan, I decided to visit Schlesinger's original which I wanted to see for a long time. Shot in anamorphic and unmistakably Nick Roeg (cinematographer here) style in its presentation - jarring wideshots, zoom-ins and beautiful visual transitions, the great John Schlesinger's Far from Madding Crowd is a handsomely told tragic romance of a prudent, independent woman and her three suitors on the rolling hills of English countryside.

A young farmer Gabriel Oak (Alan Bates) loves her neighbor, Bathsheva (Julie Christie) and proposes to her. She turns him down as she is too proud and regards him unworthy of her. Soon Bathsheva inherits a big farm from her dead uncle and moves out of his life. Gabriel loses everything when his inexperienced sheep dog drives his entire flock over the cliff. This bad luck leaves him to wander to find work in neighboring town.

They meet again when he puts out the fire at her farm. She reluctantly hires him to look over her farm. In the mean time, Mr. Boldwood (Peter Finch), a wealthy but cold farm owner next door gets smitten by Bath's jest involving a valentine's card, but she turns him down too, not promising anything.

Then she meets a dashing army sergeant Troy (Terrence Stamp). His thrilling display of swordsmanship on the hills takes her breath away. Deeply infatuated, she hastily marries him. Alas, Troy's heart belongs to poor young Fanny (Prunnella Ransome) who stood him up at the altar not long ago. He is also a compulsive gambler and not interested in farming. He also makes a big enemy out of Boldwood. As Fanny turns up again, things get complicated.

Not quite thoroughly a modern woman, Bath is conflicted by her ever shifting feelings. No one in Madding Crowd is truly evil or has harmful intentions. Who gets Bath's heart at the end? Trusty servant/long time friend who she can always depend on? A dreamboat who can stir fire in her with one look? A wealthy, kindly benefactor who'd tolerate her equivocation til kingdom come?

All actors are fantastic in their respective roles. And Julie Christie is very lovely indeed. Thomas Hardy's portrayal of a nineteenth century woman is an overly melodramatic one for sure, yet it's a very entertaining one.

Farewell to the Rights of Man!

Billy Budd (1962) - Ustinov

Set in Napoleonic War era, The film tells a story of an incorruptible sailor, Billy Budd (Terence Stamp) and his sadistic superior Claggart (Robert Ryan). Good natured, always smiling Budd gets recruited from the merchant ship(The Rights of Man) by Royal Navy. Soon, Budd's beauty and innocence wins over weary sailors and officers alike, except for the Master-at-Arms, Claggart who is despised both by shipmates for his cruelty without reason and by officers for being an unwelcome headache during wartime. And he is out to destroy something perfect, something beautiful.

The best part of the film is the two's on deck confrontation - no matter how hard Claggart tries to get a rise out of the angelic kid, he only finds himself defeated by Budd's innocence and straightforwardness. "Oh, no. You would charm me too, huh? Get away." He shouts.

Billy Budd, Melville's the other famous seafaring novel, has been loosely adapted to two highly homoerotic films - Beau Travail and Gohatto, both set within military ranks and holding on to the idea of 'sailor' from the Village People a tad bit too seriously.

No doubt, 22 year old Terence Stamp is gorgeous and fits the title role as the innocence and virtue personified with speech impediment. Robert Ryan gives the performance of his career (even though he's the only one on the ship who speaks with an American accent) as evil Claggart who's just as vulnerable and lonely as anybody.

Things escalate and the film turns in to a Path of Glory like courtroom drama. Ustinov directs, produces, writes and even plays a hammy role as Captain Vere who has to make an impassioned decision on the young sailors fate (he can't veer off, get it?). He solemnly declares, "Struck dead by an angel of God! Yet the angel must hang!" Even though it's a little heavy on its biblical notion of the sacrificial lamb for the common good, with a heartbreaking and well deserved ending, Billy Budd is well worth the trip.